House Democrats are calling for Congress to rein in the president’s pardon powers after President Trump’s mass clemency for the Jan. 6 mob and President Biden’s reprieve for certain family members.

The Democrats are quick to emphasize that they view Trump’s pardons as much more egregious, since they largely benefited people convicted of crimes — including violent assaults on police officers — while Biden’s were largely preemptive.

Still, the lawmakers contend the controversy incited by both figures has highlighted potential abuses of the pardon system and demanded Congress step in to adopt some official limits.

“Pardons should be rare,” Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.) said. “And I would hope there’s a place for us in Congress to try and put some checks and balances on the pardon system so it’s not just carte blanche.”

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.) delivered a similar message, saying Trump’s actions in particular have made it “absolutely” necessary to adopt some boundaries for presidential clemency powers.

“There’s got to be some criteria,” he said. “I say that particularly for [Trump]. There’s not an equivalence, even remotely, between him and President Biden. But still, it’s a very archaic law. And it needs to be looked at. And there should be some criteria, and some role for Congress.

“This isn’t good.”

Some Democratic leaders........

© The Hill